advice to anyone who takes Sertraline. Make sure you take them with water, because...

[RedOnHerHedd]

Because last night I was shattered and went to bed forgetting to fetch my glass of water with me. And just thought, sod it, I'll just swallow them without water.

BIG MISTAKE!

I had heartburn like nothing is ever experienced before, and the burning was making my eyes water.

I tried to make myself vomit and tried antacids to no avail. The pain was excruciating for almost 3 hours.

Woke up this morning and it felt like something very hard and painful was lodged at the bottom of my oesophagus. It got worse throughout the day to the point it was agony to swallow anything.

Rang NHS Direct (Wales) and they advised me to go straight to A&E. While there I had a drip with different types of medication to help try to dislodge anything that was stuck, and told to drink flat Coke.

Anyway, it didn't work.
It's still there but not quite as painful as before. I have to give it another 24-48hrs and of it's still the same I have to have a camera put down, as the sertraline may have damaged my oesophagus.

So, word of warning:
To save 2mins worth of going downstairs to get water, I've ended up with 24hrs of pain.

Make sure you drink plenty of water, and don't ever take it dry, it's actually really dangerous and can cause a hole in your oesophagus.

Hi all, I made this account just to say thank you. I've never met you all but finding this has helped me solve this awful, painful mystery. It's such a relief to know I'm not alone and it's not all in my head. I started having this reaction in 2016 and at the time couldn't find much info on it. The first time it happened was after my pharmacy switched manufacturers (they switched to Accord) for sertraline and I was in class and I thought I was having a heart attack. I went to urgent Care and they gave me lidocaine and an EKG. The lidocaine didn't help and there was nothing wrong with my heart so they said it was a panic attack. I switched pharmacies to get a different manufacturer and that helped. Before switching I had the reaction almost every time and afterwards it was maybe every other month but seemingly at random. The symptoms were always the same and I knew within minutes of taking the pill: intense heart burn, feeling like the pill was stuck in my esophagus and burning a hole through it, overproduction of really thick saliva, feeling like I needed to burp but burping made it worse , feeling like I needed to vomit which made it so painful while vomitting but it felt way better after. My Dr didn't take it seriously and didn't really believe how painful it was so I am so grateful to know it's not in my head, it is painful, I'm not alone, and I don't have some horrible medical condition. Thank you all so much. For what it's worth, the thing that helps me the most is staying extremely calm. At first, I'd get so upset and scared and that made it way worse. Also I try to avoid citrus juice, swallowing the pill in a weird position, or taking it on an empty stomach. I now know to take it with a ton of water and never right before bed. You have all made me feel SO much better and I'm so grateful

I took generic Zoloft tonight with water but not as much as normal. I think the pill got stuck for a while in my throat and it’s burning so bad now. I didn’t even realize it was stuck until my throat started hurting. I’ve had lots of food and water to help the pain but nothing is giving me relief.im going to sleep soon and hope my throat heals over night. This has never happened to me before but it sounds like a common problem. Why don’t they coat those pills more?!

I'm so happy I found this thread. I thought I had food poisoning at first but then I was like no my esophagus is on fire. I never ha e taken the pills dry but do take them before bed as directed by my doctor. I was up for 3 hours 2 days ago vomiting and crying. Sweating through my clothes. Nothing worked to relieve it. I slept sitting up. Then my stomach hurt all the next day making me think I had stomach flu. Ruined my new years plans. I only had 2 hours sleep. Then just tonight it started again. Not a severe but now I'm stuck sitting up drinking water and gaviscon to no avail. I thought I'd google it and that how i found everyone here. I'm going to the clinic tomorrow to see if i can get something to counter act this problem. I've only been taking them 3 weeks

I think part of my issue was that I cut my Zoloft - sertraline pills in half so the inside is exposed more. And I drank the water out of the faucet instead of taking a big gulp of water from a glass or cup. So the combo of the two allowed for the pill not to go down and the inside came out partially in my throat. It was better after sleeping off the pain but I was sensitive the next day while drinking coffee.

I took my tablet last week with a mouthful of water from the tap right before bed. Had the feeling all the way down my throat as though I'd swallowed glass, there was a horrible taste and a lump at the bottom that was hard to swallow past. About 10 mins later the left side of my upper jaw had a throbbing sensation and the same running up the left side of my face to my ear. Then the roof of my mouth and tongue felt numb. It lasted about 30mins, apart from the lump in my throat which took 3 days to ease.
Glad I found this thread and now know the cause, lots of water from now on.

My daughter had terrible heartburn after taking Sertrline as well. She made some ginger tea with fresh ginger and it help immensely.

Yep, you guessed it I have just taken setraline with a drip of water now I'm suffering. Only happened last week as well but now I have found this thread I understand a whole lot better. Thing is it's never happened before when I've perhaps only used a little water or no water at all. What I have noticed though is my setraline branded box being different to my usual. Could this be the problem? Anyway my burning lasts around an hour and starts to ease off. It is painful though and it's hard to keep relaxed whilst the pain is in full force. I'm finding myself pacing around the house.

Thank goodness I have found this thread! I had this on Sunday. Went to A&E convinced I had had a heart attack! I've just taken my Sertraline again with no water and I am in agony again.

Thank HEAVENS I was able to read all these posts and realise that yes, I'm yet another one who didn't drink enough water with my Sertraline!! Oh boy ... I've never experienced anything like this in all the time I have taken Sertraline and before that Citalopram ... the burning, agonising, nauseating pain is absolutely horrendous. I am still suffering now and it's late afternoon. Took the pills at 9am. Thank you for all the advise and reassurance everyone. I thought maybe I was developing something fatal! ... and I'm an optimist!!!

Omg. Firstly hey, yep, you guessed it. Just took sertaline without water and have come on google to find out if I’m about to die an agonising death. Jesus peepers. Ppl on here are not exaggerating. It is AWFUL. I’ve read every single post on this thread and I found an unbelievable little nugget of info. APPLES. TRY APPLES. I was getting my affairs in order and organising my will when I came across the advice and I dare say I may live to tell the tail of this excruciating pain. It’s the worst thing ever. But ppl, eat some apples. It’s eased it if not removed it. Christ alive.

Seriously. Apples. Has saved my life. I literally owe my actual life to whoever posted that way back in 2014 or whenever it was.

This is the third time I have suffered with HORRENDOUS heartburn after taking setraline just before lying down for sleep. Didn’t take enough water with it & my dose has just been increased. Drinking pints of water as we speak & took Gaviscon but feeling nauseated & in pain.
Last time I had this was around the same time late evening.
Interesting to see that others have also suffered . It’s the worst indigestion I have ever experienced.
Trying to keep upright now after being unable to sleep because of the pain & nausea. I had No Idea it could damage the oesophagus!
No warnings on my pack either re not taking fruit juice.
Awful. Waiting for this pain to go.....
Had a late evening meal of tofu stir fry with Lots of peppers , onions & garlic. I wonder if that has contributed to this? I Never, Ever want to experience this again!

Eating an apple now! Whether it is coincidence or not, the pain seems to be easing a little; that, & copious amounts of water. Still feeling nauseated. Unbelievable pain....

Cozyrose - So glad you came on and saw the apple advice. I tried gaviscon, bread, yoghurt, water, milk and even drank double cream from the tub. Didn’t do anything. Ate two apples and it went. Hope you feel better.

Glad I found this. Bee n taking serataline about a week now. Took a rablet this morning with a small sip of water and developed painful stomach burning sensation very uncomfortable hopefully it will subside soon.

Who has two thumbs and is in excruciating heartburn as a result of taking sertraline dry?

This guy!

Yes, I regret my life choices. My throat is sore, the heart burn is excruciating. I'm about 3 hours in. Not a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Ive had lots of water, bread, a banana (I have no apples!). I've taken it dry a few times and it's got stuck but food normally does the job. It doesn't feel stuck anymore but the pain is unreal.

Guess I'll just have to wait it out. Lesson learned!

I wanna cry seeing all of the comments here!! I can relate, right now!! I have had GERD/ acid reflux for years and have experienced the same excruciating pain in the chest (like I’m having a heart attack) because of food. However, a month ago after taking my Sertraline, I felt a lump in my throat and started feeling the burning heartburn/ throatburn sensation. I thought that it was because of a food trigger, but noticed that it happened again the next day. I phoned my pharmacist and she said that Sertraline cannot cause GERD/acid reflux- but did ask me if I take it with 1 full glass of water- there was my answer- I take only a few sips of water with it. I went to my doctor to tell me about it but he said that that’s not possible- I felt bad thinking that it was only psychological and I was making it up in my head and then I saw this!! Thanks my friends! I owe whoever started this thread (I think Red?) years ago! .... oh and I will try some apples.

Me again! I’m wondering though if Sertraline’s formulation (not the manner of taking it) can cause heartburn.

Thank you so much. Saved me.

If there is only one thing you try, try apples. I was in excruciating pain. Tried everything. Ate an apple and my pain went away. Thanks Richie123456. Sigh. Feeling so much better.

Here's another one who just took her sertraline with a sip of water then layed down. Within a minute the excruciating pain started. I'm 40 minutes in having just guzzled gavison, 2 pints of water, biscuits and a yogurt to try to 'dislodge', don't know if it's even stuck. (No apples in the house).
There should be a bold warning on the box for this!
My husband just said hes experienced bad heartburn before too... I don't believe this compares, even my jaws are in pain.

I’m so stupid! I’ve read this thread several times before yet here I am having absentmindedly taken my tablet right before I got in bed and am now up again in bloody agony!

No apples in the house, trying some yogurt.

Hope this thread continues to help other people.

They are HORRIble If you take them dry. Sympathies OP. feels like something is burning a hole in your gullet. ....

Or PP even

KEY TIP - EAT APPLES

This just happened to me, it was absolutely horrendous. I took my pill just before bed with only a sip of water - a massive mistake. The pharmacist told me to take the tablet before bed though as I can make you feel sick. I have now learnt definitely not to do that. I started feeling sick and pain in my throat and chest lying down in bed. Then i couldn't stop producing lots of saliva. I had horrific chest pains and it got a lot worse.

Thankfully I found this page and it massively helped. If you're going through this don't worry it will most likely be over soon and you're going to be okay! Here's what worked for me:

1. Drink lots of water - i mean LOTS
2. * Eat APPLES - I had 2 - this was the biggest factor in stopping the pain
3. Sit up right with back supported and limit movement
4. Have some yogurt
5. Try to not over burp - will make you feel worse (but do not resist burping if you need to)

Eating apples is the key, I believe they neutralise the stomach acid. From eating the apple I felt the pain move from my throat and chest and then just felt really sick in my stomach. I then felt very motion sick for a while but just had to wait it out. The worst of it was over a few hours. However, if you get to the apples quickly it will really help.

Hope this helps, had to post on here because this was the only page on the internet with answers!